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December 2022

 
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EQAVET Newsletter

European Quality Assurance Reference Framework in Vocational Education and Training - Issue n°2022/04

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News from the EQAVET Network
Third Peer Review in Latvia assesses quality and effectiveness of VET
On September 21 to 22, the third EQAVET Peer Review was hosted by the Latvian State Education Quality Service in Riga, Latvia. The event brought together EQAVET Network members from Belgium (Wallonia), Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Luxembourg. During the Peer Review, feedback was gathered concerning the quality system and the ability to externally evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed system using the current performance indicators and criteria. Click ‘read more’ to find out more.

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Fourth EQAVET Peer Review in Luxembourg looks at the potential of IT
On October 12 to 14, the Ministry of Education, Children, and Youth of Luxembourg hosted the fourth EQAVET Peer Review, which gathered members from Belgium, Croatia, Finland, and the Netherlands. The focus of the event was developing and designing an IT-based system, which could bring together existing administrative data on initial VET learners. Click ‘find out more’ to learn more about the Peer Review.

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Peer Learning Activity brings together 60 EQAVET Network representatives to discuss quality assurance of micro-credentials
An online Peer Learning Activity brought together over 60 EQAVET Network representatives and neighbouring countries to discuss quality assurance of micro-credentials, on 8 – 9 November. The event was virtually hosted by Ireland. Participants learned more about the recent Council Recommendation on micro-credentials, a Cedefop project on micro-credentials for VET and the labour market, and how Ireland are using micro-credentials. Examples were also shared from Estonia, Spain and Sweden. Click ‘read more’ to find out more about the Peer Learning Activity.

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Italy hosted the fifth EQAVET Peer Review
The Peer Review focused on quality assurance of initial vocational education and training pathways, the IeFP (Istruzione e Formazione Professionale), the first national VET pathway for young learners from the age of 14. The event was hosted by INAPP (the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis), on 26 – 27 October 2022, and it was attended by the EQAVET Network from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and Spain. Click ‘read more’ to find out more.

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Germany hosted the sixth Peer Review
Feedback session on the German Peer Review

On 14 to 15 November, the sixth Peer Review was hosted by Germany. The event looked at examples of distance learning, nationally valid further training regulations and quality requirements in Germany. EQAVET Network members from Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary and Lithuania attended. Click ‘read more’ to find out more.

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Slovakia hosted the seventh EQAVET Peer Review
EQAVET Slovakian Peer Review

The Peer Review was hosted by the State Vocational Education Institute (SIOV), together with the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport, and seven EQAVET Network members from Belgium-Flanders, Czechia, Hungary, Portugal, and Slovenia acted as peers. Slovakia shared the practicalities of the new system of validation and the peers discussed its set-up, as well as the elements of quality assurance to help improve the model before the pilot is scaled up and the legislation adopted. The Peer Review took place from November 21 to 23. Click ‘read more’ to learn more about the Peer Review.

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New case studies available from Italy and Greece
Two new case studies have been published on the virtual library. Find out more about the recent research the Italian National Reference Point has completed looking at how quality cycles and the EQAVET Recommendation is implemented in the Italian Regions and how Greece has recently completed work on a new law to introduce quality assurance systems in initial vocational education providers.
News on EU-level discussions and policy developments
The European Commission sets in motion preparations for the European Year of Skills
2023 European Year of Skills

The European Commission has announced 2023 as the European Year of Skills. The year will build on EU initiatives to support skills, including the European Skills Agenda, the Pact for Skills, Structured Dialogue with Member States, and the EU Talent Pool and the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform. With this programme, the Commission wants to bolster lifelong learning by investing in training, reinforcing the relevance of skills, harmonising job-market vacancies with people’s skills, and inviting third countries’ skilled people to the EU. The European Parliament and the Council will discuss the programme proposed by the Commission. Click ‘Commission kick-starts work on the European Year of Skills’ to know more about the European Year of Skills.

COMMISSION KICK-STARTS WORK ON THE EUROPEAN YEAR OF SKILLS

📘 READ THE EUROPEAN SKILLS AGENDA

Cedefop report looks at the role of micro-credentials in supporting learning for employment
Microcredentials for labour market education and training

Cedefop has published a report which analyses the role of micro-credentials in the European labour market and how they are supporting learning for employment. The report presents how micro-credentials have gained relevance in European-level policy debates. Although there is uncertainty linked to the naming and function of micro-credentials, there are notable advantages towards their versatility and responsiveness to the requirements of the labour market. The research builds on surveys with different stakeholders, country case studies, interviews, and Cedefop’s ReferNet network. The second report on ‘Micro-credentials and evolving qualifications systems’ is expected to be published by the end of 2022. Click ‘Micro-credentials for Labour Market Education and Training (Cedefop)’ to read more about Cedefop’s report.

MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOR LABOUR MARKET EDUCATION AND TRAINING (CEDEFOP)

➙ DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships launches ‘EAfA Podcast’ – a series for those interested in apprenticeships and VET
Strengthening the supply, quality, image and mobility of apprenticeships is one of EAfA’s aim

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) has released a podcast series, which focuses on creating quality and effective apprenticeships. Through four 30-minute episodes, listeners can find out more about EAfA and hear from Nicolas Schmit (European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights), who explains the implications of the European Year of Youth and the benefits of apprenticeships. The episodes also explore the possibilities to improve the image of apprenticeships and consider the relevant role of social partners. Click ‘European Alliance for Apprenticeships’ to know more about the EAfA Podcast series.

EUROPEAN ALLIANCE FOR APPRENTICESHIPS

🎧 LISTEN TO EAFA PODCAST SERIES ON SPOTIFY

Quality Assurance in VET: Recent national initiatives
Autumn has been especially fruitful for the EQAVET National Reference Points (NRPs), with many interesting events taking place all Europe. The activities have included the first Irish review of its Education and Training Boards, as well as the announcement of the French annual conference on quality assurance, together with Slovakia’s focus on the involvement of national stakeholders in quality assurance peer learning. In addition, Romania is collaborating with the digital AGRIEdu platform in order to improve its agricultural education offer, and the Czech HR community has focused its events towards fostering cooperation among VET schools and companies. Regarding meetings, Turkey has finalised the Sustainability in Quality Practices and EQAVET meeting and is currently organising self-assessment training sessions. Finally, Malta has published the winning artwork of their second Digital Art Competition amongst secondary schools and the Netherlands has published a digital game which aims at improving quality in educational teams.
 
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Dates for your diary: EU-level events
24 – 25 January 2023 EQAVET Peer Review, hosted by Lithuania

21 – 22 February 2023 EQAVET Peer Review, hosted by Bulgaria

15 – 17 March 2023 EQAVET Peer Review, hosted by Austria

23 – 24 March 2023 EQAVET Peer Review, hosted by Belgium-Fr

28 – 29 March 2023 EQAVET Peer Review, hosted by Hungary

30 – 31 March 2023 EQAVET Peer Review, hosted by Belgium-Fl

15 – 16 June 2023 EQAVET Annual Network Meeting, Stockholm, Sweden

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ISSN: ISSN: 2443-6135